Smackdown wasn’t a solid show like last week but it was still pretty good for character growth, feud development, and the post-show development. Instead of responding to The Miz on the live show, Bryan responded on Talking Smack. This was good since the response was advertised and it gives the after show more relevance. Baron Corbin was in the main event and his moment was interrupted when Styles made it all about him and his beef with Ambrose.
This ought to get Corbin a shot at the title sometime later. Also, if there was any confusion early on, Carmella is now a full blown heel after she attacked Nikki Bella again, but this time at the announcer’s booth.
Here are the other 5 points to note from this week’s Live Smackdown edition-
1- Smart, not soft!
There aren’t many words to describe the promo from Miz last week on Talking Smack that hasn't been mentioned already. Play it again, just like the show recapped it, and you still feel its impact. The Miz demolished Bryan, he trampled the air out of the room and he put everyone, including Bryan, on notice.
So, it was no surprise that Miz walked out on the ramp to kick off Smackdown Live even before his music hit the arena. This wasn’t a man who was enjoying walking every minute in the spotlight firmly over him. Here was a man whose ego took a huge hit after Bryan called him a ‘coward’.
He got back into heel mode demanding the audience not to boo him and like clockwork they booed. They booed fervently. He compared his style of wrestling as smart instead of soft. That’s why he’s surpassed the reigns of Bret Hart and Razor Ramon, mentioning that he’s there for all the media appearances, for being a spokesperson and being in movies plus he’s been wrestling for 10 plus years without ever being injured.
But a certain superstar came out to give a different perspective
2- Comfort Zones
Dolph Ziggler and Miz are both from Cleaveland and it’s no secret that they are good friends in real life. Also, they have been part of some really underrated and fun segments. Ziggler is still recuperating from his huge loss to Dean Ambrose, but not only did the show make the post-Smackdown show Talking Smack seem relevant, it also found a way to begin a new feud, a more relevant one for the IC title given all the hype around that promo.
Ziggler agreed that Miz made some great points but he countered by saying that the people will never get behind The Miz. Because you see, the magic lies outside the comfort zone. There are wrestlers, who unlike Miz, go above and beyond to entertain people, while the IC Champion is too consumed in staying famous. He urged Miz to fight and prove to everyone including himself that he’s not a coward, but the champion only teased a fight instead of actually getting into one. The audience instantly chanted ‘coward’ at the heel, ending a well-done opening segment.
3- A Lot of Style(s)
AJ Styles began his night by proudly walking around backstage with his prized souvenir – Cena’s Never Give Up Arm Band. He met Apollo Crews backstage and ran him down, tried to bury him by being oblivious about his name.
A match was in the cards and an exciting one at that, which Styles won with a Phenomenal Forearm.
He then made his way to do commentary for Dean Ambrose vs Baron Corbin which ultimately ended in a disqualification courtesy of Styles and win for Corbin after the Lone Wolf was attacked by the number one contender.
But the night for Styles ended on quite a hilarious note. The last image of him was too goofy for any face who runs the place. He was stuck with the rope between his legs – you get the idea!
4- The Endearing Loser
Renee Young travelled to Heath Slater’s home this week to interview him. His wife was there and so was Rhyno. This segment had its awkward silences, imperfect and not at all glamorized. It quite frankly made Slater seem like such a dude. Not like a normal dude but like the ‘Big Lebowski’ Dude. He lives in a trailer and his kids were out picking cans instead of being at school.
Most of it was fictional, it seemed. Like the woman who played his wife.
But the story is that Slater wants a Smackdown contract to provide for his family. This isn’t tearjerking since Slater is such a happy go lucky guy. You just got to love that. He’s an endearing loser and it’s cool that he’s so lame. So, when he and Rhyno faced former champions The Headbangers, the crowd was fully behind him and they finally qualified for the semi-finals.
The aftermath of the match wasn’t too good for Rhyno, who had to receive eight stitches to close a wound in his wound. Here is WWE’s statement:
The Headbangers’ return to WWE is one that Rhyno won’t soon forget. The Man Beast received eight stitches from WWE medical personnel following the SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament Match he competed in with Heath Slater.
While Rhyno left SmackDown Live in Dallas with eight stitches, he and Slater also advanced in the tournament with their victory after Rhyno’s Gore. The unlikely tag team is now just two victories away from becoming WWE’s first SmackDown Tag Team Champions at Backlash on Sept. 11 on WWE Network.
5- Two damaged souls and Talking Smack
The Bray Wyatt- Randy Orton feud took a step forward with the confrontation between these two. The point they wanted to make keeping in mind Wyatt’s mystical gimmick was that here are two damaged souls and they have each other’s attention. Wyatt has no fear since he is the face of fear.
Wyatt likes Orton because he thinks he’s a sick soul just like him and that both of them want to beat the heck out of each other. It’s a battle both welcome and it was made official for Backlash.
Also, on Talking Smack, Bryan responded by saying that The Miz was ultimately right and the guy knows how to press the buttons that get people all riled up. Bryan could quit and go back to the indies like the Tokyo domes but he has a family to think about for now and ended it all on a diplomatic note. Well, any hopes of him returning one last time have been dashed off, for now.Plus Miz faces Ziggler for the IC Title at Backlash.
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